The Windows registry is an important part of your operating system and it contains settings for hardware devices, software and user preferences. If the registry becomes damaged, then your PC may not perform correctly and you may even get errors. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix a damaged registry.
1. Run System File Checker:
Windows has a built-in tool called System File Checker that can help you scan and repair system files, including the registry. To run it:
• Go to Start > Command Prompt (Admin)
• Type in “sfc/scannow” and press Enter
• Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your PC
2. Use a Registry Cleaner:
A registry cleaner is a piece of software that scans through your registry looking for invalid or corrupt entries. It then removes them, which can potentially improve performance and stability. You can find a range of registry cleaners online, such as CCleaner or RegCure.
3. Restore a Previous Registry Backup:
If you’ve created a registry backup before, you can restore it. This will replace the current registry with the one you backed up. To restore it:
• Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator”
• Type in “regedit” and press Enter
• Locate the file you want to restore from
• Select File > Import
• Choose the registry backup you want to restore and click OK
• When prompted, click Yes
• Restart your PC
4. Reset Windows:
If all else fails, you can reset Windows. This will reinstall all of the default settings and programs, so you should only do it as a last resort. To reset Windows, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery > Reset this PC.
By following the steps above, you should be able to fix a damaged registry. Remember to back up your registry regularly, so you can easily restore it if something goes wrong.